- NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed LiDAR technology for Utah's snowpack measurement.
- The three-year Wings Over Weber program uses planes to gather data in Utah.
- Utah water managers assess the cost-benefit of this technology for improved water management.
SALT LAKE CITY — Technology, developed through NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, could become Utah's new standard in measuring snowpack, and managing water supply.
A three-year pilot program called Wings Over Weber is being focused on about 805 square miles within the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. Planes flying in meticulous zigzag patterns above, collect data, using millions of tiny lasers, with what's known as light detection and ranging, or LiDAR.
Jon Parry, assistant general manager at the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, said he's very interested to see what they can learn from the data gathered.
"When we know what the snowpack looks like — the depths across the entirety of the drainage — we have a better ability to forecast the runoff scenarios," Parry explained. "We have just more accurate information to help us make better decisions."
Utah's Division of Water Resources is running the program, thanks to about a million dollars in grants from the Bureau of Reclamation. Scott McGettigan, section manager over water efficiency, said the process to gather and create the 3D modeling is tedious and expensive. Water managers in California have been using the technology for over a decade. McGettigan said part of the pilot program will take a close look at whether the cost is worth the benefit for Utah.
"Part of the process is to understand the value that it provides versus the cost associated with the different projects," McGettigan explained. "It's not cheap to put planes in the air, flying back and forth over a watershed."
Currently, SNOTEL sites, spread across wide areas help give averages of snowpack levels. Even if Utah adopts the new 3D-based technology, the SNOTEL sites will still be needed to help measure snow density.
Ideally, water managers hope the more accurate data will help them better prepare for flooding events, and improve collaboration in restoring Great Salt Lake. While the verdict is still out on whether the tech is worthwhile in Utah, McGettigan said it's important to take a close look at resources that could help improve how we use and conserve water.
"I think we're at a stage where we should really take advantage of learning and maybe not slow down at this point in time," he said.
